What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
My first job was raising chickens and selling the eggs they laid so I could buy a horse so I could "get around" in our small North Dakota town and the surrounding farming area. I was 9, and I started with 3 chickens. By the time I was 10, I had enough money to buy half a horse. Luckily, my parents were willing to pay for the other half. I learned that it doesn't take much to start a "business"; however, it takes a lot of dedication and hard work to make it grow. I also learned that a horse requires training, shelter, food, water, grooming, and companionship - just as we do. The awesome equestrian responsibility - especially in cold Dakota winters - was not quite what I had envisioned, but the "getting around" part was really great.

My first professional job was as a computer systems analyst at Douglas Aircraft. I learned that I loved computers and that developing operating systems to make them communicate with each other, share files, and schedule workloads was great fun.

Who is your hero, mentor or person you most admire? Why?
Early in my career Admiral Grace Murray Hopper was a hero. I heard her speak at a computer conference, and she became my first role model. I admired her inventiveness, her wit, and wisdom, and her record of accomplishment that was admired by all who knew her. In mid-career I started to meet more women in engineering and technology. One was Dr. Thelma Estrin, who became a member of the Board of Trustees at The Aerospace Corporation, where I worked. I admired her not only for what she had accomplished, but also for her strong support of women in all walks of life. Dr. Estrin became my second role model and my close friend. If I were starting my career today, her daughter, Judy Estrin, would be my hero for her love of technology, her entrepreneurial spirit, and her commitment to women.

What is your favorite book?
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" by John Le Carré. I am a devotee of puzzles, and this book is an espionage thriller with a complex plot that is basically a literary puzzle. It was set during the cold war which was going into deep freeze when I was young and in the early stages of my career in the defense industry. The poetic prose spun around the confluence of people and events in the global intelligence communities was spellbinding.

What advances in your field do you envision over the next 10 years?
We are just seeing the tip of the Information Technology (IT) iceberg. In ten years, we will have the full benefit of the integration of voice and data, voice recognition, and advanced telecommunications throughout the world. With the convergence of computer, telecommunications, and networking technologies, and the continued advances in fiber optics and semiconductors, our world will be changing ever faster. As a result of the efforts of creative entrepreneurs all over the world, millions of innovative products and processes will flood the marketplace, and it is hard to imagine that everything will not be improved. The Internet has already changed the way we communicate and work. Internet exchanges will totally transform the way businesses manage their suppliers and interact with their customers. As the systems, modules, and components that go into major assemblies - such as autos - are described by specification on the Internet, inefficiencies will be squeezed out of the procurement process. As a result, costs will fall, and products will become more accessible to more people. The following are some of my predictions based on advances in IT:

• We will have smart cars that file trip plans and automatically traverse electronically enhanced streets and freeways.

• Homes will be filled with smart appliances that "learn" our preferences and perform on command.

• We will have Dick Tracy watches that keep us informed and in touch with anyone anywhere, anytime through wireless Ka band satellite communications.

• Telecommuting will be a way of life and will make it easier to balance work and family.

• There will be less extended travel for work as a result of ready-access video conferencing.

• Robots will be doing more housework and voice recognition technology will be doing more mousework.

• People will be able to manage their homes and many aspects of their lives from a distance.

• People will remotely "try on" clothes and see themselves from all angles before deciding what to buy over the Internet.

• There will be more specialty products as a result of computer controls that facilitate mass customization.

• Computer security and privacy on the Internet will be improved, and cybercrime will be more sophisticated.

• Movies, music, and many other forms of entertainment will be available on demand in your briefcase.

• Shortages of IT and other technology professionals will go from acute to chronic.

• The FAA will have a foolproof flight and terminal Traffic Control System. Planes will still be late.

• Revolutionized education will make it possible for everyone to earn university degrees.

• Developing countries that embrace technology and the Internet will be able to leapfrog into prominence.

• There will be a new frontier aboard the International Space Station. Valuable research will be conducted in space, and access to other planets will be a reality.

• When people truly perceive how all pervasive the changes will be, we will see some instability in societies throughout the world. The bombings of the World Trade Center and the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City and the "Battle in Seattle" are examples. Universal access to information technology will be critical to closing the gap between have nets and have nots.

• We will evolve into more flexible beings, and we will expect the unexpected. We will still be putting on our pantyhose one leg at a time.

What do you see as the single most interesting element of your work?
My current work is as interesting and exciting as it gets. As a consultant to NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, I am exposed to a broad range of interesting issues that affect Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) safety. These issues range from how to fly the Shuttle safely through 2020, to what type of crew return vehicle is needed for the ISS. I interact with some of the brightest and most dedicated professionals I have ever worked with: astronauts, cosmonauts, flight controllers, engineering experts from virtually every discipline, technicians and managers; and I "kick the tires" on the Space Shuttle and many of its components. It is impossible to describe the thrill of seeing this incredibly complex technological wonder reach for the heavens - especially when it is commanded by Eileen Collins! (I have a tee-shirt that has the question, "How many men does it take to build a rocket?" on the front and "None" on the back.)

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?
Building a strong software engineering capability at The Aerospace Corporation. Like most aerospace companies in the last three decades, Aerospace was led by hardware oriented engineers and scientist who didn't always have a great appreciation for computers and software and their potential in space systems. As their appreciation grew, top management gave me a charter to build a Software Engineering Subdivision in 1980. The charter required sophistication in space systems, as well as continued work to heighten awareness throughout the company about computer and software technology. I am proud to have led the effort to build an organization of seven engineering departments with expertise from networking and systems software to Mission Planning and C3I and with more Ph.Ds than many university engineering departments. This organization provided computer systems expertise to communications, weather, and surveillance satellite programs and conducted research in advanced concepts for computer security, on-board processing, autonomous navigation, expert systems for satellite anomaly resolution, and workstations for satellite control.

What was your greatest challenge and what did you learn from it?
At The Aerospace Corporation, my greatest challenge was launching research initiatives and prototype systems to ensure that evolving technology could be incorporated into existing and planned space systems. I learned that new ideas require a gestation period for most people, and that patience and persistence are required to bring them to fruition. I also learned that bringing them to fruition is exhilarating.

Currently, my biggest challenge is in creating programs to interest young women in science and engineering, and in setting up mechanisms for scholarships and awards to support and encourage more young women to make technology their career choice. I am working with several universities and professional organizations in this endeavor.

What strategies do you use to maintain balance in your life?
I think my life has been pretty well balanced over the long haul; but at many points in time, it has been chaotic. My philosophy is to live life to the fullest, and sometimes it gets too full. Saying "No" is the best balancing strategy, but it's not one of my strong suits. The strategies that have been most important to me are:

• Relying on competent household assistants to do weekly housecleaning, grocery shopping, and yard maintaining, and daily dishwashing, bed making, clothes washing, and errand running.

• Having a supportive husband with a superior sense of humor who can pick up the pieces if the schedule breaks.

• Having a team of people to work with that is exciting and creative and that will recharge my batteries when I overextend.

• Being involved in organizations like WITI, IEEE and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) where I can experiment, explore ideas, and see that there really are many women out there who have similar interests, challenges and lives.

• Exercising and walking with my husband, John.

• Having great friends who also don't say, "No" to very many opportunities.

What advice would you give to young women who want to enter your field?
At every opportunity, I advise young - and not so young - women to "Go for it!" At no time in history have women had better opportunities to compete on an even playing field because the Communications Revolution is all about brains and not about brawn. And never has there been a more interesting and exciting time to live and work. I believe it is important to:

• Get as much education as you can and then go back and get more. Technical Knowledge and creativity are the coin of the realm for jobs, promotions, and obtaining venture capital. The so-called softer skills are equally important, so hone your interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills too. Learning is the spice of life and work.

• Do what you love to do, work hard, and have fun doing it.

• Always look for better ways to do the things that you do and the things that your company does. NASA has a goal of building space systems "Faster, Better, Cheaper." Most successful companies are looking to achieve this goal for their products.

• Seek challenging opportunities, do your homework, and be ready to do whatever it takes to get the job done well.

• Surround yourself with up-beat people who have diverse (even controversial) ideas. Understand what motivates them and how to work with them as a team. Build strong alliances based on respect and trust.

• Keep your boss, peers, and employees fully informed. Rely on your networks to save time and get fresh perspectives. And give other women a boost at every opportunity.

• If someone who works for you can learn from doing something - anything - that you are doing, teach her what to do. Share your knowledge and lessons learned, but give others free reign to work the way they work best.

• Learn from your mistakes, but don't dwell on them. Remember that if you don't make an occasional mistake, you probably aren't pushing the envelope far enough. Learn also from your successes, and celebrate them.

• Bring a positive, can-do attitude and a sense of humor with you wherever you go. Jesse Jackson said, "It's not your aptitude, it's your attitude that determines your altitude in the organization." As a Woman in Technology, I would say, "It's not only your aptitude, it's also your attitude that determines your altitude in the organization." If you run out of enthusiasm, go on a college recruiting trip. Interacting with a bright, young students will get you turned back on. On second thought, go college recruiting when you are full of enthusiasm too. It will help you keep your "up" up.